by Hibernians ensured their place at the top of the table with a 6 – 0 victory over San Gwann. Joelma Alves Gabriel and Alexis Espitia delivered a brace apiece, while Yolande Attard and Rodianne Zerafa completed the scoring.
Team Selections
Hibernians’ Kenneth Costantino kept faith in Elizabeth Harrington in goal. Amber Galea came into the starting eleven, accompanying Natalee Geren and Jessica Dimech in the centre-back trio. Yolande Attard started as the left wing-back, while Ileana Farrugia shifted to the right. Nicole Sciberras and Kayleigh Chetcuti continued to operate in midfield, behind an unchanged attack consisting of Alexis Espitia, Joelma Alves Gabriel and captain Martina Borg.
Meanwhile, Justyne Caruana also continued to be trusted between the posts for San Gwann. Svea Bartolo started in defence alongside Nanako Kobayashi and Jeanelle Falzon, while captain Annabelle Rapa and Naomi Blundell operated on the wing. Fatma Al Girbi protected the defence, with Nilayza Attard and Rabab Mhalli flanking Hailey Russell who was further forward. Shania Gheiti spearheaded the attack.
How It Unfolded
As hinted by the two coaches, the match kicked off to the expected setting of a Hibernians side tasked with opening up the San Gwann defence. The league leaders seized possession early but attempts to sneak attackers behind with direct play where well read by the team in Yellow.
Although Hibernians were unafraid to pull the trigger from outside the box, it was Joelma Alves Gabriel who first managed to work Justyne Caruana. The Brazilian fired a left-footed effort, but San Gwann’s goalkeeper shifted well to cover the right post.
The Paolites started to get more joy on the right flank, working triangular patterns to sneak crosses from the byline. Nicole Sciberras snuck a low cross into the path of Martina Borg but the effort lacked pace and Justyne Caruana reacted well to the placed effort from close range.
On their part, San Gwann trusted Hailey Russell to carry the ball forward, who managed to shrug off challenges and find Annabelle Rapa in support on the wing. The captain earned the side a throw-in, with the team winning a corner kick from it. However, Hibernians cleared without breaking too much sweat.
With basics continuing to be challenged, Hibernians demanded a check of the football pressure, which sure enough the referee obliged to and requested a change from. The game commenced with Hibernians starting to pepper more shots in search of opening up the scoring.
Joelma Alves Gabriel and Natalee Geren tested Justyne Caruana twice, but the Brazilian ultimately broke the deadlock in the 27th minute. She combined with Nicole Sciberras with the two having a short exercise of tiki-taka to walk the Brazilian behind enemy lines, with Alves Gabriel placing an effort into the bottom left corner from close range.
The side doubled the lead just ten minutes later, through Alexis Espitia who drilled a spectacularly controlled volley into the top right corner of the net. The American linked with a cross from Ileana Farrugia. Espitia made it three in the 43rd minute, rebounding an initially saved shot from Joelma Alves Gabriel, with San Gwann’s Julian Camilleri questioning the lack of an offside flag. However, the goal stood to send the league leaders with a comfortable lead into the break.
Half-Time Score: Hibernians 3 – 0 San Gwann
Julian Camilleri made an attacking change at half-time, bringing on Yasmin Attard to double-up with Shania Gheiti up front. Svea Bartolo gave way, with the side switching to a back four in defence.
However, the Paolites had a quick restart. Yolande Attard attacked the far post to tap home yet another cross from the right-wing, with just three minutes into the half. Martina Borg delivered another peach of a cross minutes later, which begged for a touch that would have made for a certain goal, but instead fizzed across the face of goal.
San Gwann managed another half-chance as Hailey Russell launched a ball for Shania Gheiti to chase. San Gwann’s number thirteen won an initial tussle with Jessica Dimech, but the Hibernians’ defender recovered well to block the effort.
Hibernians’ Kenneth Costantino freshened up the attack in the 55th minute, bringing on Leah Ayres and Rodianne Zerafa, who replaced Martina Borg and Alexis Espitia, with Nicole Sciberras taking the captain’s armband. Shana Farrugia and Maya Muscat made their way onto the pitch shortly after with the two swapping for Ileana Farrugia and Elizabeth Harrington. San Gwann’s Julian Camilleri brought on Marie Chibiuke Oliver in midfield, with Shania Gheiti making way.
Shana Farrugia picked up right where Ileana Farrugia left off, fizzing deliveries into the box. She picked out Yolande Attard who headed over the bar, before Jessica Dimech delivered one of her own crosses to Joelma Alves Gabriel who like Attard could not convert this time.
However, Rodianne Zerafa delivered the fifth in the 74th minute, to complete her comeback from long-term injury. She let off a powerful shot from the right side of the box that rattled the crossbar on its way into the goal. She was set up by Nicole Sciberras who drove into the box, before laying a well-weighted pass for the first-time shot.
Amber Galea made way to Ingrid Psaila a few minutes later, with Hibernians’ Kenneth Costantino taking no chances with the young defender who had her name taken earlier on. Tracy Axiak also made an appearance in defence for San Gwann, while Kelsey Cachia took to the pitch in midfield late on, with the duo replacing Nilayza Attard and Annabelle Rapa.
The Paolites made it six through Joelma Alves Gabriel, who pounced on a gifted ball in the box to place into the right corner of the net, to complete the scoring in the 82nd minute.
Final Score: Hibernians 6 – 0 San Gwann
Next Matches
Hibernians ensure their three-point lead at the top of the table ahead of the final match in round one. They will face Lija Athletic on Saturday 12th October at Dingli Ground, with the match starting at 17:30.
Meanwhile, San Gwann will be disappointed not to have resisted the Paolites more, but will look for a better showing against Valletta on Friday 11th October. They meet at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, with kick-off set at 20:30.
Swieqi United also beat Mtarfa by 9 – 0 later in the afternoon to complete the sixth weekend.
Lead Image: Lara Schembri
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[…] Hibernians secured a 6 – 0 victory over San Gwann earlier in the afternoon. […]
[…] Gwann’s Julian Camilleri underlined the strength of Hibernians who dealt his side a 6-0 defeat last time out. He said, “It was a very tough match. We knew that we were going to face a […]